Support base for a storage receptacle

ABSTRACT

For lifting storage receptacles, a support base for the storage receptacle is provided on each of its side walls with openings through which a lifting member can be inserted. Further, a guide member is located within the support base for guiding the lifting member into position. Another opening is also formed in the support base to receive a securing rod which prevents drawers, shelves and the like from being displaced as the support base and storage receptacle are lifted.

United States Patent 1191 Rels 1 1 Jan. 7, 1975 15 1 SUPPORT BASE FOR ASTORAGE 2,444,326 6/1948 Baker et al. 211/72 X RECEPTACLE 2,705,1203/1955 Owen 1 108/56 2,967,080 1/1961 Nelson 3l2/2l6 17 1 Inventor:Anton R918, Er n wi z rl n 3,602,157 8/1971 Cohen 108/57 3,638,5862/1972 Elshout 108/58 [73] Asslgnee' L'enhard Eden Swltzerland 3,699,90210/1972 Allgeyer 108/58 [22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 Primar ExaminerPaul R.Gilliam 21 A 1. N .140 Y I pp 0 4,143 Assistant Examiner-Andrew M.Calvert Related US. Application Data Attorney, Agent, or FirmToren,McGeady and [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 260,561, June 7, 1972, stangerabandoned.

57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 J H 1971 SW rl nd8551/71 For l1ft1ng storage receptacles, a support base for the Ze astorage receptacle is provided on each of its side walls with openingsthrough which a lifting member can be I a s s s s 4 s 4 s v a nf-S s q"-li s s s s s 1e 0 earc position. Another opening is also formed in thesupport base to receive a securing rod which prevents drawers, shelvesand the like from being displaced as [5 6] uNlTE g gggg gs giiENTs thesupport base and storage receptacle are lifted.

924,225 8/1909 Feely 312/216 10 Claims 3 Drawing Figures Patented Jan.7, 1975 3,858,527

2 Sheets-Sheetl Patented Jan. 7, 1975 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Fig.3 r

1 SUPPORT BASE FOR A STORAGE RECEPTACLE This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 260,561 filed June 7, 1972 now abandoned SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a support structurefor a storage receptacle, such as shelves or drawers in which workpiecesand tools are stored and,more particularly, it concerns the arrangementof a support base for a storage receptacle which can accommodate thelifting members of lift trucks and the like.

In the production of various types of machines and equipment, it isimportant from a practical and economical point of view to provideadequate storage of and ready accessibility to workpieces or tools whichare necessary in producing the machines or equipment. Therefore, thearrangement of storage facilities for parts and prepared sub-assembliesand also for tools and other devices used in the production operation,are of great importance in affording efficient and economical productionoperations. Advantageously, the structure and organization of thestorage arrangements are adapted to the particular item being produced.If production must be shifted from one item-to another, then it isadvantageous if the storage arrangement can be rearranged for adaptationto the new item to be produced. Therefore, it is important to be able todisassemble an existing storage arrangement and, after a predeterminedtime interval, to reassemble the storage arrangement at the samelocation or at another location.

At thepresent time, it is common practice to construct storagefacilities of standarized or modular storage units, such as stands,frames, shelves, chests of drawers and the like. When a storage facilityis to be rearranged, it is particularly advantageous if th storagefacilities canbe picked-up and moved in their entirety and positioned atanother location.

To permit the transportof various types of storage facilities, it hasbeen known to provide devices for the storage units, particularly assupports for such units, which make it possible to insert the liftingmember of a lift vehicle, such as the fork lift on a forklift truck,into the support so that individual storage units can be lifted andmoved by a lifting vehicle and reassembled at a different location.

One of the known devices involves the provision of shaped guidesadjacent the bottom of a storage unit into which the lifting member orlifting fork can be inserted. However, these devices have beendisadvantageous, because it has been possible only to insert the liftingmember into one or two sides of the storage unit.

I With such an arrangement, the storage unit must be positioned so thatthe lifting member can be inserted into the guides. Due to the highcosts involved in the assembly of a storage arrangement, there has beenthe tendency to utilize the storage space involved as completely aspossible. However, when attempting to attain complete utilization of thestorage space, it often occurs that lifting vehicles for transportingindividual storage units cannot be positioned for lifting and moving theunit without first repositioning or dismantling the storeage units. Ifready access for lifing and transporting the storage units is notaviliable, then any rearrangement of a storage arrangement becomes morecostly and involves a loss of valuable production time.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention, to provide asupport base for a storage receptacle or unit so that a lifting vehiclecan approach any side Y of the support base for carrying out therequired lifting and transporting operation.

In accordance with the present invention, a support base for a storageunit or receptacle is provided with at least four upright side walls andeach of the side wallshas an opening or openings through which thelifting member of a lift vehicle can be inserted.

In such an arrangement of a support base, it is possible for a liftvehicle to approach the most accessible side for lifting the storageunit and transporting it to another location.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a cover plateextending across the upper ends ofthe side walls which provides abearing surface for the bottom of the storage receptacle mounted on thesupport base. The coverplate protects the bottom of the storagereceptacle, which normally is formed of a relatively thin sheet metal,from damage by the lifting member or due to buckling.

To assure the proper orientation of the lifting member within thesupport base, a guide member is provided within the support base in thepath of the lifting member as it is inserted through the openings in theside walls. Preferably, the guide member has a cylindrical shape and hasa diameter of a sufficient size to fit between the arms of a liftingmember so that proper guidance can be provided. The diameter of theguide member is selected to afford a reasonable amount of play betweenthe guide member and the lifting member. By means of the guidemember thelifting member is properly positoned when it is inserted and it avoidsany oblique or slanted orientation of the lifting member.

It is advantageous if the side walls of the support base are alignedwith the side surfaces of the storage receptacle. When the sides of thebase and the receptacle are aligned, the base and receptacle form a unitwhich provides good stability, especially when a plurality of suchreceptacles are stacked one upon the other.

Another important feature of the invention is that the base can bedetachably secured to the storage receptable so that it can be removedfrom the receptacle when it is not in use.

In addition to the openings for the lifting member, other openings canbe provided for hooking a securing member into the support base and thestorage receptacle for holding drawers, trays and the like in positionwhen the storage unit is lifted and moved.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantagesand specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there isillustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support base, embodying the presentinvention, for a storage receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along theline 11-11 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic sectional representation of a safetydevice for use with the support base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, the lower half of astorage receptacle 1 is shown in dashed lines mounted on a support base2. The storage receptacle can be any of a number of different types ofstorage members such as a chest of drawers, a shelf stand, a rack andthe like. The base member 2 is formed from a single piece of sheet metalby cutting and bending it into the desired configuration. The basemember has four upright side walls laterally enclosing a space withinthe support base. A cover plate extends across the upper ends of each ofthe side walls and defines the upper end of the space formedwithin theside walls. Each of the side walls has a pair of openings 3 so that alifting member, such as a lift fork, can be inserted through any one ofthe side walls into the space within the support base for lifting thebase and the storage receptacle mounted on it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the side walls 4 of the support base are alignedwith the side surfaces of the storage receptacle 1. However, it is alsopossible to inset the side walls 4 of the support base 2 relative to theside surfaces of the support receptacle so that the support base has asmaller base surface than that of the receptacle.

As indicated in FIG. 2, a cylindrically shaped guide member 6 ispositoned within the space defined by the side walls 4 and extendsdownwardly from the cover plate 5 defining the upper end of the space.The guide body is spaced evenly between the projections of the openings3 to prevent the lifting member from being inserted obliquely into thesupport base. The cylindrical shape of the guide body is particularlysuitable for guiding the ends of the lifting member, such as aforkshaped member, as it is inserted through the openings 3 into thesupport base.

Thelower ends of the side walls 4 have an inwardly bent portion 7 and anupwardly bent edge 8 spaced inwardly from the side walls. The inwardlybent portion 7 form the bottom support surface for the support basewhile the upwardly bent edges 8 provide a reinforcement for the bottomsupport surface. Accordingly, the support surface for the base is verystable since its bearing contact with the floor or other surface onlytakes place in the region adjacent to the lower ends of the side walls4.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, openings 9 are provided through the coverplate 5 for securing the support base 2 to the bottom of the storagereceptacle 1 by means of bolts and the like.

Further, in addition to the openings 3 through which the lifting memberis inserted, at least one of the side walls has an additional opening 10spaced between the two openings 3, note FIG. 1. Preferably, the opening10 is provided in the side wall 4 aligned with the front side of thestorage receptacle. In FIG. 3 a safety device is shown inserted into theopening 10 and the device consists of an upright securing rod 11 with afirst holding angle 12 movably positioned on its lower end and a secondholding angle 13 rigidly secured to its upper end. Each of the first andsecond holding angles l2, 13 has a first part extending transversely tothe elongated direction of the securing rod 11 and a second right anglepart secured to one end of the first part spaced from the securing rod.As shown in the drawing, the second 4 holding angle l 3 is secured belowa lid 15 on the storage receptacle 1 and the first holding angle ismovably positionable for insertion through the opening 10 and then fordownward movement by its right angle part into engagement with the innersurface of the side wall below the opening. A drawer 14 is contained inthe storage receptacle 1 and its drawer pull bears against the securingrod 11 so that during lifting and transport the drawer is locked inplace. A similar arrangement of the securing rod 11 can be provided forholding shelvesand other storage surfaces in position as the storageunit is moved. The arrangement of the opening 10 is particularlyadvantageous for the use of the securing rod 11, since it is unnecesssryto provide any special structure for the lid 15 or the base of thestorage receptacle l for receiving the securing rod.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of theinventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is: v

1. A storage receptacle, such as a chest of drawers, which can be liftedor picked up by a lifting vehicle, such as a fork lift truck, comprisinga storage member, a support base for said storage member especiallyconstructed for stacking and transportation purposes, said support basecomprising a rectangular planar closed surface upper cover plate, anupright side wall secured to and extending downwardly from each of theperipheral sides of said cover plate, the lower ends of said side wallsbeing bent inwardly to form a narrow marginal support strip along thebottom of said side walls with said support strip being substantiallyparallel relative to said cover plate and arranged to provide a hollowrectangular base surface, the inner sides of said support strip beingbent upwardly toward said cover plate with the upper end of the upwardlybent inner sides being spaced below said cover plate and formingreinforcement for the support strip, said side walls forming incombination with said cover plate and support strip a space closedlaterally and at its top, each of said side walls having openingstherethrough for accomodating the lifting member of the lifting vehiclewith the lifting member being inserted through the openings in one ofthe side walls into the laterally closed space so that the liftingmember can be inserted along any of the side walls of said support base,and a guide member positioned within the closed space formed by saidsupport base for guiding the lifting member as it is inserted throughthe openings in one of said side walls.

2. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supportbase is formed of a single piece of sheet metal cut and bent to formsaid cover plate, side walls and support strip.

3. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a bottommember extends across the lower end of said storage member, said coverplate disposed in surface contact with said bottom member of saidstorage member and arranged to form a support for said storage membermounted on saidsupport base.

4. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidside walls has apair of laterally spaced symmetrically arranged openingstherethrough v pair of laterally spaced openings for the lifting member,and a securing member arranged to be adjustably securable in saidadditional opening and to extend upwardly from said support base forsecuring said storage member.

6. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said storagemember has at least one openable drawer, said securing member comprisesan elongated securing rod having an upper end and a lower end, a firstangle-shaped holding member movably secured onto said securing rodadjacent its lower end, a second angle-shaped holding member rigidlysecured to said securing rod and spaced from said first holding membertoward the upper end of said securing rod, said first holding memberhaving a first part movably mounted on and extending outwardly from saidsecuring rod and a second part attached to said forst part at a locationspaced outwardly from said securing rod and bent angularly to said firstpart, said second part being arranged for insertion through theadditional opening in said side wall of said support base for effectinga hooking engagement with said support base, and said second holdingmember shaped to provide a hook-like engagenient with said storagemember above the drawer in said storage member so that said securing rodextending between said first and second holding members 6 forms a guardfor preventing outward displacement of the drawer in said storagemember.

7. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guidebody is cylindrically shaped and is positioned centrally within thelaterally enclosed space extending downwardly from said cover plate toat least the lower ends of the openings through said side walls.

8. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said guidemember is arranged for use with a fork-shaped lifting member and has adiameter corresponding approximately to the open space between theadjacent side surfaces of the fork-shaped lifting members and itsdiameter is reduced by an amount for affording play between said guidemember and the lifting member.

9. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sidewalls are arranged to align with the side surfaces of storage membermounted on said support base.

10. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supportbase is detachably securable to said storage member and said cover platehas openings therethrough and means insertable through the openings insaid cover plate for securing said support base to said storage member.

1. A storage receptacle, such as a chest of drawers, which can be liftedor picked up by a lifting vehicle, such as a fork lift truck, comprisinga storage member, a support base for said storage member especiallyconstructed for stacking and transportation purposes, said support basecomprising a rectangular planar closed surface upper cover plate, anupright side wall secured to and extending downwardly from each of theperipheral sides of said cover plate, the lower ends of said side wallsbeing bent inwardly to form a narrow marginal support strip along thebottom of said side walls with said support strip being substantiallyparallel relative to said cover plate and arranged to provide a hollowrectangular base surface, the inner sides of said support strip beingbent upwardly toward said cover plate with the upper end of the upwardlybent inner sides being spaced below said cover plate and formingreinforcement for the support strip, said side walls forming incombination with said cover plate and support strip a space closedlaterally and at its top, each of said side walls having openingstherethrough for accomodating the lifting member of the lifting vehiclewith the lifting member being inserted through the openings in one ofthe side walls into the laterally closed space so that the liftingmember can be inserted along any of the side walls of said support base,and a guide member positioned within the closed space formed by saidsupport base for guiding the lifting member as it is inserted throughthe openings in one of said side walls.
 2. A storage receptacle, as setforth in claim 1, wherein said support base is formed of a single pieceof sheet metal cut and bent to form said cover plate, side walls andsupport strip.
 3. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, whereina bottom member extends across the lower end of said storage member,said cover plate disposed in surface contact with said bottom member ofsaid storage member and arranged to form a support for said storagemember mounted on said support base.
 4. A storage receptacle, as setforth in claim 1, wherein each of said side walls has a pair oflaterally spaced symmetrically arranged openings therethrough foraccommodating the lifting member.
 5. A storage receptacle, as set forthin claim 4, wherein an additional opening is formed in the upper portionof at least one of said side walls between the pair of laterally spacedopenings for the lifting member, and a securing member arranged to beadjustably securable in said additional opening and to extend upwardlyfrom said support base for securing said storage member.
 6. A storagereceptacle, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said storage member has atleast one openable drawer, said securing member comprises an elongatedsecuring rod having an upper end and a lower end, a first angle-shapedholding member movably secured onto said securing rod adjacent its lowerend, a second angle-shaped holding member rigidly secured to saidsecuring rod and spaced from said first holding member toward the upperend of said securing rod, said first holding member having a first partmovably mounted on and extending outwardly from said securing rod and asecond part attached to said forst part at a location spaced outwardlyfrom said securing rod and bent angularly to said first part, saidsecond part being arranged for insertion through the additional openingin said side wall of said support base for effecting a hookingengagement with said support base, and said second holding member shapedto provide a hook-like engagement with said storage member above thedrawer in said storage member so that said securing rod extEndingbetween said first and second holding members forms a guard forpreventing outward displacement of the drawer in said storage member. 7.A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide bodyis cylindrically shaped and is positioned centrally within the laterallyenclosed space extending downwardly from said cover plate to at leastthe lower ends of the openings through said side walls.
 8. A storagereceptacle, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said guide member isarranged for use with a fork-shaped lifting member and has a diametercorresponding approximately to the open space between the adjacent sidesurfaces of the fork-shaped lifting members and its diameter is reducedby an amount for affording play between said guide member and thelifting member.
 9. A storage receptacle, as set forth in claim 1,wherein said side walls are arranged to align with the side surfaces ofstorage member mounted on said support base.
 10. A storage receptacle,as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support base is detachablysecurable to said storage member and said cover plate has openingstherethrough and means insertable through the openings in said coverplate for securing said support base to said storage member.